Chelsea target now has £850m release clause in Fabrizio Romano bombshell

Chelsea have been linked with a summer transfer move for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo but that swoop has just become much more difficult due to the player’s release clause.

The Blues are known to be in the market for a centre-back and the 26-year-old had been touted as an option. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich had also been named as potential suitors for the player in a report from Sports Mole at the end of June.

Araujo only started 11 times for Barcelona last season in La Liga but that wasn’t helped by three separate injuries, including a serious hamstring problem. The defender has won La Liga twice with the Catalan side, including this year, as well as two Copa del Rey trophies.

Chelsea target sees release clause climb

The player has 23 Uruguay caps to his name and was named in the La Liga Team of the Season in 2022 and 2024. There are few doubts over Araujo’s pedigree with all the signs suggesting that he could transition into the Premier League, although there are worries over his injury niggles.

Fichajes had claimed that Barcelona could sell the player for £51 million this summer. However, that was enforced by a €60 million release clause. Should Chelsea have offered that fee, Barcelona would not have been able to stand in the way of contract negotiations with the player.

In an update from transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the deadline for that release clause has now passed. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote: “Ronald Araujo’s release clause is back to €1B today after being available for €60m until yesterday.”

Blues linked with Ajax alternative

There is no way that Chelsea will activate the new release clause, which is equivalent to £850 million, and it puts the La Liga club in a very favourable position for any transfer negotiations and able to call the shots over an asking price.

Araujo renewed his contract with Barcelona in January, extending his stay to 2031. He had been linked with a move away form the club in the winter window but negotiations with Deco proved fruitful.

talkSPORT claims that Chelsea have held fresh talks with Ajax centre-back Jorrel Hato as an alternative. The player is also on the radar of Liverpool.

The 19-year-old can play both at centre-back and left-back, with his versatility attracting Premier League suitors. Hato featured 50 times for Ajax last term, scoring three goals, and has earned six caps for the Netherlands.

In other news, Chelsea hoping to repeat Cole Palmer trick after 'enquiry' for Man City talent.